Communities want clinics equipped for non-communicable diseases

Communities in the central Malawi district of Dowa have called on government to deploy machines for screening non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as diabetes at every health centre in the country.

The call was made at a public discussion the Journalists Association Against Aids (JournAids) organised at Chiwamba Health Centre on Wednesday as part of the diabetes prevention project it has been running since March last year.

A representative of Chief Chimutu, Charles Moses, said health centres in rural areas do not have screening machines.

“Some of us in the village are aware that we need to go for non-communicable diseases screening, but many health centres do not have the machines for that. The story is not different at Chiwamba Health Centre where many people with symptoms of diabetes, hypertension are referred to Kamuzu Central and Deayang Luke hospitals, but not many go there. As result, we are having preventable deaths in our communities,” he said.

Chiwamba Health Centre senior medical assistant Lackson Mbowera said the absence of the machines leads to preventable deaths.

“Despite a catchment area of 5 000 plus people, the health centre does not have a simple machine for screening diabetes, yet it costs K6 000,” said Mbowera.

Programme manager for non-communicable disease and mental health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Beatrice Mwagomba, said they are implementing initiatives aimed at addressing challenges posed by NCD.

“Our approach to challenges coming as a result of non-communicable diseases is  policy based which tackle primary and secondary prevention as well as care for those affected. We have pilot activities done at the facility level in Kasungu and soon we will be starting at Area 25 Health Centre in Lilongwe. With passage of time, we should be there to meet the challenges,” said Mwagomba.